Although we tend to think first of earthquakes, wildfires, or drought as common disasters that threaten California, the region is also highly susceptible to flooding and high winds which can occur when the the jet stream delivers a series of Pacific storms in rapid succession.
What the locals often call `the Pineapple Express'. While it very rarely happens - in its most extreme forms - it can produce weeks of heavy rain and catastrophic flooding.
The most famous example occurred more than 150 years ago (1861 and 1862), and has sparked studies by the USGS (see Climate change is increasing the risk of a California megaflood) to try to determine the frequency, and impact, of these types of rare storms (see California's ARkStorm Scenario Revisited).
While there is no suggestion that what is expected over the days and weeks ahead will reach those epic proportions, California - which saw heavy flooding, and power outages last week - appears to be in line for another impactful week.
This from NWS Los Angeles.
Landslides and debris flows could become serious threats in some regions, and high winds are likely to cause additional widespread power outages. As of 7am EST today, more than 110,000 customers were without power in California (see poweroutage.us map below).
While the temperatures in Southern California are generally manageable even when the power is out, in Northern California - and the mountains - frigid temperatures and heavy snowfall are forecast. Having safe, alternative ways to stay warm in these regions could be lifesaving.
Although this pattern will eventually change, some computer models suggest several more waves of this `atmospheric river' are possible over the next week or so.
The news isn't all bad, of course. In a state increasingly plagued by drought, reservoirs are filling up and the mountain snow pack is building. But with climate change, you can sometimes have too much of a good thing, and that can produce devastating impacts for some.
While we don't know how bad the next round will be, overnight - at the request of California's governor - FEMA has declared these storms a disaster.
A week ago, in FEMA Preparedness Survey we looked at the decline in household preparedness since the pandemic began 3 years ago. Scenarios like this are the reason why every household in the country needs to be prepared to deal - without immediate assistance - with a variety of emergencies.
So . . if a disaster struck your region today, and the power went out, stores closed their doors, and water stopped flowing from your kitchen tap for the next 7 to 14 days . . . you are you prepared with:
- A battery operated NWS Emergency Radio to find out what was going on, and to get vital instructions from emergency officials
- A decent first-aid kit, so that you can treat injuries
- Enough non-perishable food and water on hand to feed and hydrate your family (including pets) for the duration
- A way to provide light when the grid is down.
- A way to cook safely without electricity
- A way to purify or filter water
- A way to handle basic sanitation and waste disposal.
- A way to stay cool (fans) or warm when the power is out.
- A small supply of cash to use in case credit/debit machines are not working
- An emergency plan, including meeting places, emergency out-of-state contact numbers, a disaster buddy, and in case you must evacuate, a bug-out bag
- Spare supply of essential prescription medicines that you or your family may need
- A way to entertain yourself, or your kids, during a prolonged blackout
FEMA http://www.fema.gov/index.shtm
READY.GOV http://www.ready.gov/
AMERICAN RED CROSS http://www.redcross.org/
